MediCann pulling out of Chico

(MediCann has informed Cal NORML that they have revised their
policy so as to no longer use physician's assistants to write
recommendations. Instead they are moving to an all-physician staff
as of April
- D Gieringer).

Medical marijuana clinic pulling out of Chico

Melissa Daugherty
Chico Enterprise-Record

Chico, CA Mar 16, 2005 -- A medical clinic that specializes in
marijuana recommendations is pulling out of Chico after putting down
roots early this year.

According to the company's founder, MediCann is closing its doors
after business hours today, at least temporarily, in response to
concerns from the Butte County District Attorney's office.

Mike Ramsey confirmed Tuesday that he spoke with MediCann
representatives shortly after the company opened its Chico branch.
One of his primary concerns was that the recommendations were coming
from physician's assistants, rather than doctors.

Ramsey said he told representatives it was his opinion that
examinations and recommendations by assistants violated Proposition
215 - the California law allowing qualified patients the use of
medical marijuana.

"We're concerned that if we're going to have this law, we'd better do
it the right way," the district attorney said.

MediCann's operations concerned others as well. Ramsey said he'd
received calls from a medical marijuana advocacy group that agreed
the recommendations were invalid.

The group's concern, Ramsey said, was that recommendations by
physician's assistants would tarnish those that comply with
Proposition 215.

MediCann opened its Chico branch on Nord Avenue exactly 10 weeks ago.
It's there where company founder Dr. Jean Talleyrand will be taking
patients for the last time today.

In a letter to the Enterprise-Record, Talleyrand said the company
plans to staff any future clinics within Butte County with a licensed
physician for all initial patient evaluations. The action comes as a
result of the concerns of the district attorney's office.

Talleyrand said the Chico clinic is closing because MediCann doesn't
have a large enough staff to place doctors at each of its 12
locations.

He added that MediCann appreciates the discussion with the District
Attorney's Office and that the company plans to staff its other
locations with doctors as well.

"This discourse helps to ensure that recommendations for the
therapeutic use of medicinal marijuana remains accessible, affordable
and within the bounds of the law," Talleyrand wrote.